Carpenter&#39;s gauge



July 11,1939. F. M. WEDN, JR 2,165,878

` CARPENTERS GAUGE Filed Dec. e, 195s "ff/lf 5 His GMW Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 4 Claims.

The invention relates to gauges for carpentry work and has for one of its objects to provide a novel gauge by means of which the bottom or `lower rail of a window sash may be accurately marked to indicate or centermark rail holes or apertures to be bored partly through the sash -rail preparatory to cutting recessesor cavities therein necessary for the reception of the usual and well-known metallic lifts or hand or linger holds commonly provided to enable the sash to be raised.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gauge by means of which sashes of different widths may be marked withproper and appropriate location of` the lifts or nger holds Without variation, it being understood that the distance between them or their location inwardly from the lateral vertical edges should vary depending on the Widths of the sashes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gauge which, when set, will be used for-marking any desired or given'number of sashes quickly, easily, uniformly and accurately, the gauge having appropriate graduationsY thereon as to sash widths and being readily adjustable to take care of any and all variations.

An additional object ofthe-invention is to provide a gauge which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in operation, durable in service, and-a general improvement in the art,

To the attainment ofthe foregoing and other objects and` advantages the invention preferably consists ofthe detailed construction hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational and interior View of a portion of a window sash and frame assembly showing the present invention in applied position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken along the lines 2`2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectionalv view taken along the lines 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail,

wherein like reference characters designate like parts, the numeral l indicates a portion of a window frame and sash` assembly. The present invention is primarily adapted for use with window sashes of a vertically movable or displaceable type, and accordingly the' assembly comprises a window frame or trim 2 permanently secured to a wall 3 by any desired method and arrangel, ment.

Associated with the trim is a vertically movable sash 4 illustrated in its lowermost or lowered position to close the aperture defined by the trim. vAs is well-known in the art, sashes of the present type are of various areas, having predetermined widths and heights which are recognized by those skilled in the art as standard sizes. Window sashes of' the vertical displaceable type are invariably provided with holds, commonly termed lifts, forming operating handles or finger rests, to enable one to raise the sashes in a verticaly direction. The nger holds or lifts, which are secured to the vbottom or lower rail of the sash, may be of any of the wellknown types, some of which are imbedded within recesses formed in therail and others of which merely abut the inner surface of the rail and extend outwardly therefrom toward the interior of the room or conned space.

As previously stated, the sashes employed in dwellings and various types of buildings are of various sizes, and accordingly the lifts are secured to the sash bottom rail adjacent to and vinwardly from the vertical stiles or the vertical edges of the sashes at various distances, depending on the width of the sashes, and in that manner maintain a proper relation and proportion between the lifts commensurate with the width of the sashes.

Considerable time has been lost by those employed in carpentry in determining the position o-f and locating the sash lifts or their securing means, and considerable care must be taken in locating the lifts adjacent opposite sides of the sash so that they may be positioned a proper height above the window sill and inwardly from the vertical edges of the sash in horizontal alignment. The instant invention contemplates impressing the lower rail of a sash without loss of time and positively as well as properly locating the sash lift securing means immaterial of sash width.

Accordingly, the instant invention involves a gauge generally designated by the reference character 5 and comprising a housing formed of wood or any other desirable material. Wood is most suitable as a housing material as the coefcient of expansion and contraction of a wooden housing will be less than that of a metallic housing and accordingly less likely to vary due to the varying degrees of temperature. It will, of course, be clearly understood that the housing may equally as well be formed of any material. The housing is of a length preferably twice the distance from the innermost surface of the sash trim to a vertical central planeintersecting the iii sash lift of the narrowest standard sash so that the gauge may be not only reversible or employed at either the right or the left-hand side of the sash rail but also that it may be employed with the narrowest sash used. Accordingly, when employed with the narrowest standard sash the end of the housing may be positioned to abut a vertical weather stripping 'I of the frame or trim, and a, lower edge of the housing may abut the window sill 8.

Extending outwardly from one or a rear face 9 of the housing are indicating means or metallic marking prongs I0, preferably two in number, permanently secured or ixedly attached to the housing by any method and adapted to be imbedded in the bottom rail II of the sash to mark or center punch the exact location of the sash lift securing means if the lift is to be secured to the rail or the center of the bores so that the rail may be counterbored and the material therebetween removed if the lift is to be recessed into the rail. The prongs I0, spaced longitudinally of the housing and positioned inwardly from they ends thereof a predetermined distance, are desirably located on the longitudinal center line of the housing so that, Without any adjustments whatsoever, the sash rails may be marked or impressed adjacent each side thereof for the right and left-hand lifts, and both lifts may then be attached to the sash rail an equal distance above the window sill and inwardly from the weather stripping l.

'I'he gauge, insofar as the previous detailed description is concerned, is applicable for use with the narrowest of standard sashes, and in order to arrange the gauge so as to be capable of use with sashes of different widths a bore I2, preferably extendingV longitudinally of and through the housing, is spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal center line of the housing and adjacent an edge thereof. Communicating with the bore I2 is a slot or elongated opening I3 of a length preferably less than the length of the bore and opening into one or the front face I4 of the housing. A recess or relief I5 extending the full length of the housing is formed in the front face thereof to accommodate a correspondingly formed metallic base plate I6 which is secured to the housing by a plurality of screws I6EL or any other desirable means. The base plate is also provided with a slot or elongated aperture I'I which is coextensive with the housing slot I3 and affords a clear opening into the bore I2.

Positioned within the bore is a rod or plunger I8 substantially coextensive therewith and adapted to move longitudinally relatively to the housing. In this manner the rod forms a spacing means to position the prongs a predetermined distance laterally from the weather stripping whereby one end of the rod is placed in abutting relation to the weather stripping and the lowermost edge of the housing is superimposed upon or placed in bearing relation with the window sill. With the gauge so positioned force is then applied thereto in a direction toward the sash by means of a hammer or any other tool, and the prongs are imbedded into the sash rail to indicate the exact location of the sash lift securing means or the position where the counterbored holes are to be formed.

In order to prevent an accidental or unwarranted relative longitudinal movement between the rod and housing, a thumb or set screw I9 is associated with the previously described structure to definitely and securely retain the rod in a predetermined position. The set screw is provided with a stem which extends through the base plate slot I'I and housing slot I3, respectively, and is threaded into a corresponding aperture positioned adjacent one end of the rod removed or furthermost from the weather stripping when the gauge is in operable position. The screw has adjacent the outer end of the stem an operating head 2I positioned outwardly of the housing and arranged to bear upon the base plate to maintain the rod in a predetermined position. As will be noted, by reason of the base plate being formed of metal the set screw may be firmly tightened and the gauge may be continuously used with the rod and associated set screw in varying positions throughout a long period of time without any appreciable wear.

As previously indicated, the position of the sash lifts inwardly from the vertical edges of the sash is determined by the width of the sash, and in order to eleminate the use of a separate scale to determine the lateral location of the sash lift securing means the base plate is preferably provided with a graduation indicated as markings A, B, C and D. The set screw adjacent end of the rod is to be aligned with the various markings on the base plate, and in this manner the prongs will be positioned a predetermined distance from the weather stripping to properly mark the bottom rail of a window sash commensurate with the sash width or size. It will, of course, be understood that the markings correspond 4to the particular Width of sash, and accordingly the marking A may have the end of the rod aligned therewith for a twenty-two and one-half inch or twenty-four inch width of sash, the marking "B may have the end of the rod aligned therewith to properly position the prongs for a twenty-eight and one-half inch wide sash, and likewise the markings "C and D may have the end of the rod aligned therewith for a thirty-one and one-fourth inch and thirty-four and one-half inch wide sash, respectively. It is, of course, clearly understood that the figures recited are merely illustrative, and there is no present intention to limit the graduations tothe above dimensions.

In accordance with the above, therefore, the gauge may be set at the correct marking, and numerous sashes corresponding to the width for which the gauge is set may be quickly, easily, uniformly and accurately marked both for the exact location of the right and left-hand sash lift.

It will be clearly understood that merely an exemplified form of the invention is illustrated and described and that various changes may be made thereto Without departing from within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a carpenters gauge, in combination, a housing having a bore extending longitudinally thereof, a spacing rod positioned in said bore adapted to have an end thereof abut a sash trim, a slot opening into said bore from one face of said housing, graduations on said housing adjacent said slot adapted to have the other end of said rod aligned therewith, locking means extending through said slot and threaded into said rod, longitudinally spaced means fixedly associated with and extending outwardly from said housing on a longitudinal axis thereof, said lastnamed means being adapted to impress a bottom rail of a Window sash to mark the location of a lift.

2. In a carpenters gauge, in combination, a housing having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and having a length substantially equal to the length of said housing, a rod positioned within said bore having one end thereof adapted to abut a sash trim, a slot opening into said 'bore and extending to adjacent the ends of said housing, markings on said housing adjacent said slot adapted to have the other end of said rod aligned therewith to determine the .extent the rst-rnentioned end may be spaced outwardly from the housing, locking means extending through said slot and threaded into said rod adjacent said second-named end, and longitudinally spaced means extending outwardly of said housing from the side thereof opposite the slot, said means being fixedly attached to the housing and positioned on a longitudinal axis thereof, said means being adapted to impress a bottom rail of a window sash to mark the location oi a lift.

3. In a carpenters gauge, in combination, a housing formed of wood and having a bore extending longitudinally thereof, a spacing rod positioned in said bore adapted to have an end thereof abut a sash trim, a slot opening into said bore from a front face of said housing, a recess formed in said front face, a metallic plate positioned in said recess having an elongated aperture aligned with the slot of said housing, locking means extending through said aligned aperture and slot and into said rod adjacent the other end thereof, markings on said plate adapted to have the second-named end of said rod aligned therewith, and longitudinally spaced prongs xedly associated with said housing and extending from a rear face thereof adapted to impress a bottom rail of a window sash to indicate the position of a lift.

Il. In a carpenters gauge, in combination, a housing formed of wood and having a bore extending longitudinally thereof, a spacing rod positioned in said bore movable longitudinally with respect to said housing and adapted to have an end thereof abut a sash trim, a slot opening into said bore from front face of said housing, a relief formed in said front face, a plate positicned in said relief having an elongated aperv ture aligned with the slot of said housing, means extending through said aligned aperture and slot and into said rod adjacent the other end thereof for actuating said rod, said means having a portion thereof adapted to bear against said plate for maintaining said rod in a predetermined position, markings on said plate adapted to have the second-named end of said rod aligned there- 

